Programs

Personal Development Services

This program provides community integration for the purpose of healthy living and socialization. Our team provides staff ratio of 1 to 5 participants for those individuals who require more support to participate in their community. This is to help with those participants at the CAPE who live with mobility or communication challenges.

The program consists of walking activities at the BayPlex Recreation Centre, music therapy, a low-impact exercise program, candlepin bowling at the local alley, games of bingo and lunch outings in local restaurants.

One goal of this program is to develop the particpant’s social network by enabling them to take part in community-based programs. Another objective is to enable them to become and remain physically active as this can be challenging with their need for support and supervision.

Pre-Vocational Programs

Pre-Vocational programs encompass several areas of training including: mail processing; answering phones; developing computer skills; photocopying; document shredding; assembling golf, hotel and coal packages for local businesses; and ground and building maintenance. CAPE particpants are also responsible for completing banking and other general office errands.

Vocational Programs

Vocational training offers hands-on work experience to individuals at the CAPE. Through our refinishing department, particpants and staff restore all types of wood furniture to its original quality. The aim of this program is to parallel the work-world environment with its expectations of punctuality, work ethic, and quality control. Our participants are highly successful in this program and receive high praise from our customer base in the community, and all over Cape Breton Island.

Pre-Employment

The pre-employment program provides job-readiness skills training. CAPE Participants in this department are working towards employment or volunteer placements.

Structured training materials includes: grooming/hygiene; being on time (punctuality); working with others; having a positive attitude; keeping your job; understanding direction; developing quality worker skills; dealing with constructive criticism; resume building/writing, preparing for an interview; introductions and greetings; knowing when to ask for or offer help; money management; coping with anger; and dealing with authority figures.

The participants also complete work in the area of life skills in preparation for independent living. Skills such as shopping flyer sales, preparing grocery lists and supervised shopping, preparing and cooking meals are explored through this program. The program also focuses on budgeting money and participating in healthy and active living.

Community Employment

Our participants gain experience in real working situations within the community, with the support from the employer and with the CAPE’s job coach support. We provide one-on-one support and training in the workplace until such time when the employer is confident in taking over.

Placements are both paid and volunteer placements. Participants who have completed the programs at the Centre for Adults in Progressive Employment (CAPE) have worked in local businesses including McDonald’s and Sears.

School-To-Work Transitioning

The Department of Community Services and the Department of Education have a mutual mandate of transitioning students from high school to appropriate post secondary options. For many students with intellectual disabilities, this would include an Adult Service Center such as the CAPE.

While the transition team is in place for the student very early on in the child’s education, an application to the CAPE would take place around the age of 14. Following this, a representative from the CAPE would complete a functional assessment of the applicant and if appropriate, begin to participate in transition meetings. The actual implementation of the transition plan would not begin until later in high school.